The Future Proof manifesto: A plea to the new Scottish Parliament

The Future Proof project led by the Scottish Youth Film Foundation and supported by the leading fact checking charity, Full Fact, spoke to political leaders, journalists and digital communication experts in the run up to voting day to understand the growing threat of fake news, exaggerated claims and AI generated content whilst also highlighting the issues that matter most to young voters.

Whilst there were limited instances of deception by candidates in this campaign the Future Proof reporters are urging politicians to do more to keep up with pace of the perpetually evolving online world and equip themselves with the skills needed to respond to the emerging risks to democracy.

With Holyrood’s new session starting next week, the team have produced their own digital communications manifesto to respond to the threats and strengthen democratic engagement of young people in Scotland.

The 4-point plan recommends rapid improvements to media literacy for all voters, stricter online safety laws, better political education within the school curriculum and new ways to engage more young people in policy making in the digital age.

On mis and disinformation, the document says the ‘the average person is woefully unequipped to fully process and evaluate the overwhelming amount of information they consume.’ It says media literacy should be treated ‘as an essential democratic skill, not an optional add on.’

It calls for new partnerships between government, educators, and youth organisations to teach how to identify mis/disinformation, how algorithms work to shape what young people see, and how to participate confidently in public debate.

The reporters say they were ‘struck by how many people feel lost, intimidated or out of their depth when engaging with politics, often leading to disengagement as a result.’ They call for practical political education in schools with accessible guides to break down complex processes. ‘Young people should not need specialist knowledge to understand how their democracy works’.

The document also calls for stronger safeguarding with online safety experts having a formal presence in government and in the Scottish Parliament. It calls for greater transparency of political content online, with clear labelling of sponsored posts, political advertising, and algorithmically boosted material. ‘Young people should never have to guess who is trying to influence them or why.’

Finally, it calls for better representation of young people in the political process with better digital participation tools to let them contribute ideas, vote on priorities, and give direct feedback on policies and public services.

One of the Future Proof reporters who wrote the manifesto, Tom Mitchell Sadler says: “If this election showed me anything, it’s that people feel more divided than ever, and fewer and fewer believe they’re genuinely represented by the political system, the 52 per cent turnout in Scotland reflects that. There are many reasons behind it, but I don’t think anyone is well served by politics built on pointing out opponents’ flaws instead of offering people something meaningful to vote for.

“What I want to see from the incoming government is a commitment to bringing people together rather than fuelling the kind of polarised politics that has shaped so much of global discourse and continues to fragment us. Whether that unity comes from staying within the union or choosing the path of independence, the priority should be listening to people and putting their needs ahead of party lines or political point‑scoring. We deserve better than diatribe, we deserve leadership that actually represents and unites us. As one of the 52 per cent, I still believe we can do better, but if they keep mistaking frustration for apathy, they’ll miss the moment people decide they’re done waiting for politics to catch up.”

Scott Mackay, the co-founder of the Scottish Youth Film Foundation, endorsed the young reporters’ vision of radical change.

“Imagine a business, selling to young people, trying to attract them. Where do you imagine they would place their advertising? In newspapers? On TV? Billboards and buses?  Of course not. They would go to where their customers are - online. Any business has to go to where its customers are - except politics it seems.  The work done by our team of young journalists is testament to the existence of both curiosity about, and a desire to engage in, the conversations of the day. They are fully aware that the issues affect them and seek only to have their voices heard.  But are the powers that be willing to give them a hearing?  

“It’s been a privilege to work with these journalists, and I think Future Proof has more than shown the need for more permanent channels carrying their voices. There has to be something between Newsround and Newsnight that speaks their language.”

One of the other Future Proofers, Santi Parra-Whitehead added: “I think young people do still want to engage in politics. Seeing so many out canvassing for parties, at hustings events, and coming up to speak to us felt like a real ray of hope for me.

“However, the dismally low turnout at this election should not be ignored. When only 1 per cent of our youngest voters are making it to the polling booth, it’s clear that Scotland’s current approach to politics needs a drastic rethink. We need to work harder collectively to ensure that politics is more accessible, transparent - and in the long run - future-proof.”

The full manifesto can be found on the Future Proof website https://www.futureproof2026.co.uk/